Talked to a defensive coach about 3-4

[Lee2000]

I asked a defensive coach who was on a state championship high school team in my state about the 3-4 defense. He said it require very smart players who could analyze situations and know their assignments given the designated linebacker that would blitz. He told me the 3-4 is better against the pass than the run. He preferred the 4-3 because it was more effective against the run. But what most struck me was his comments about the intelligence required to operate a 3-4 effectively. This goes in line with previous Saban comments. Big, smart guys across the board, but especially on defense. The big is probably due to the vulnerabilities of this defense against the run.

Lee2000

 

[Krie30511]

that should work well with three guys i know in particular...Jason, Zach & Carter all huge students of the game..... there could be others that just the ones I know for sure.....

 

[nick1]

personnally I like the 4-3 better but it's Saban's call and I don't think we'll have a problem stopping the run in any formation due to how much we will blitz

 

[DoLpHiNz34]

Saban's definatey got a plan. The more you learn about what he's doing the more it seems to make sense. I wonder how long it's going to take for it to all come together.

 

[Kaarel]

3-4 requires certain type of personnel of front seven and I somewhat doubt Dolphins have that at the moment. What worries me is that Jason Taylor for example doesn't really fit into that scheme.

 

[nick1]

3-4 requires certain type of personnel of front seven and I somewhat doubt Dolphins have that at the moment. What worries me is that Jason Taylor for example doesn't really fit into that scheme.

JT fits into the scheme as an OLB and Roth, Carter and Vickerson fit into the d-line

 

[Kaarel]

JT fits into the scheme as an OLB and Roth, Carter and Vickerson fit into the d-line

I think JT definately fits better as a defensive end in 4-3. He's also not the youngest anymore to adapt to a new position.

 

[nick1]

I think JT definately fits better as a defensive end in 4-3. He's also not the youngest anymore to adapt to a new position.

hey JT is already going to play some TE for us so whynot put him at OLB too

 

[Ohio Fanatic]

3-4 requires certain type of personnel of front seven and I somewhat doubt Dolphins have that at the moment. What worries me is that Jason Taylor for example doesn't really fit into that scheme.

Baloney, when someone is as good and athletic as JT, he can fit into any scheme, 3-4 or 4-3.

 

[finsnchips]

that should work well with three guys i know in particular...Jason, Zach & Carter all huge students of the game..... there could be others that just the ones I know for sure.....

Channing Crowder is also a great student of the game. With his 'macho' issues put aside, and hopefully in the past, he is an extremely intelligent young man.

 

[saves]

If the 3-4 is worse against the run, how come the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 8th best teams statisticly against the run are base 3-4?

 

[rafael]

If the 3-4 is worse against the run, how come the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 8th best teams statisticly against the run are base 3-4?

What stat are you using? If it's total yards then it may have something to do with them being good teams that other teams fall behind and abandon the run.

 

[bakedmatt]

He told me the 3-4 is better against the pass than the run. He preferred the 4-3 because it was more effective against the run.

I can't agree with that. it's better against the pass yeah... only if you have midget, speedy LBs like 6'0" 230lbs constantly playing the pass. that's not supposed to be the case. typically your guys are supposed to be bigger and traditionally it's been that way. it's supposed to be like having 3 DTs on the field, 2 DE/OLBs (not always pass rushing), and two very large MLBs.

on the other hand you have 2 DEs and if you think about it, 4 DLmen total committed to passrushing every down. and then 3 LBs who have been traditionally smaller.

one thing is definite about what you said. there is a large amount of responsibility placed on the LBs. and perhaps with complex blitz packages and smart LBs, and players with good size, the 3-4 can be better against both the pass and run.

it depends most on your players' abilities, obviously, and your coaches changing the system to meet their strengths.

 

[bakedmatt]

heres another perspective. Ricky ran very very well against the patriots in 2002 when they were in a 4-3. in fact, many many teams ran very successfully against them that year. since they switched to the 3-4 the following year, they have been stout against the run.

 

[ckparrothead]

Recent trends notwithstanding, yeah the 3-4 is inherently better in the areas of pass rush especially, as well as defending the middle of the field and the flats against the pass through confusion and mixed zone coverages.

One of the ways you beat a 3-4, even the most effective of 3-4 defenses, is by tough running right up the middle. That is how Pittsburgh was able to smack the Patriots up in their first face-off, and what they were unable to do again when they played in the playoffs.